UK mobile payments platform gets the go-ahead

The European Commission today gave clearance for the joint venture between Everything Everywhere, O2 and Vodafone to bring an open mobile commerce solution to the UK. In a statement from the companies, they announced their intention to get the system off the ground as quickly as possible.

The first part of the project will deliver a mobile marketing platform which will allow brands and agencies to target opted-in users with discounts and offers, with mobile payments following later. It is this payments side of things which will be of most interest to consumers, with the intention of allowing users to make payment for goods in physical locations and online, as well as incorporating loyalty cards.

The joint venture aims to make the mobile commerce solution open to all operating systems, handset manufacturers and networks, and all interested retailers, agencies and brands. This announcement represents a big step forward for mobile payments in the UK – it’s something that’s been under discussion for a long time, so it’s good to see some real signs of progress.